Rebel Wilson: Shopping as a Plus-Size Teen Was "Mentally Disturbing"

She got real about how sh*tty the task can be as a young girl.

Getty

By
Rachel Torgerson

Jun 29, 2017

Rebel Wilson has always been confident — in fact, at Tuesday night's launch event for her new fashion line, Rebel x Angels, held at curvy subscription service Dia & Co.'s NYC headquarters, she said she was born with the trait.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Nevertheless, she's had her fair share of insecurities. Along with sharing the self-described "mentally disturbing" shopping trips she experienced as a teen, the actress also shed light on why she created a fashion line in the first place — and revealed how anyone can get Rebel-level self-esteem.

What does getting into the fashion industry mean to you?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Back in the day I never would have thought of myself as someone who was interested in fashion or had any kind of fashion sense even! Being an actress and becoming famous all around the world, people suddenly became interested in what I was wearing. I had to pay attention and work with top Hollywood stylists in order to dress appropriately and with style. Over the years, I've learned a lot, and this is really me giving back a lot of those tips and creating beautiful, trendy, confident clothes for women out there. The plus-size market is really underserved, and I know there are women out there [who] are looking for the types of clothes I wear all the time.

Have you ever had a hard time shopping?

Oh my gosh, all the time. I mean, now I can't really go to shopping malls a lot ... [but] back in the day, I remember I had to go shopping with my mom as a teenager, and it was mentally disturbing.

In what way?

If you are plus-size, there's not a lot to choose from and, I don't know, I guess I didn't know what looked good [on me]. So wasn't a fun, enjoyable experience. Now, when I'm doing fittings for movies or red-carpet events, it's really interesting and it's great to think about what I'm going to wear and what the message is in the outfit.

How has shopping changed for you?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Well [now] what I do is research ... checking out what the other brands have available so that I'm different. But online shopping is [obviously] big now, and I'm a big fan of [it]. You can just click, and if you don't like it you can send it back!

Do you think the fashion industry is more or less size-inclusive now?

Honestly, more. I even had a model agency say they're frantically trying to find more plus-size girls, because there's more work for them. Before, they might have had a couple [curvy girls] on their roster, and now, with models like Ashley Graham and Hunter McGrady, who is one of our models — I mean, these girls are working all the time ... I never want to promote unhealthiness, I always want people to be the healthiest version of themselves. But if that's plus-size, then I want them to feel confident about how they look and be able to dress with style. Just because you're not a size two or four [doesn't mean] you can't have style.

You seem to exude that confidence naturally.

A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson) on May 17, 2017 at 3:29pm PDT

Do you have any advice for people who struggle with being naturally self-assured?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

I'm not great at everything. For example, running. I suck at it! I'm really slow. But if you don't concentrate on that, and [think about] the things that you are really good at and know how great you are in those areas, that will give you inner confidence and [help] you to know your worth as a person ... Everyone is good at something. You might be the best at sewing, the best at making little capes, you might be an amazing singer, you might be brilliant at biology ... all people have worth and skills and are great at stuff — you just have to find out what that is.

Like, you're great at appearing in Pitch Perfect movies!

Yes, we finished filming Pitch Perfect 3, and we showed it to the first few test audiences and it tested through the roof, so I'm really, really excited, and it will come out in December. I actually wear some of the pieces from the line [in the movie], and they'll be available for sale when [it] comes out.

Rebel x Angels is available for sizes 16 and up and will be sold in stores and online in July by major retailers like Nordstrom, Dillards, Lord & Taylor, Hudson's Bay, Addition Elle, and through styling subscription service Dia & Co.